Don L. "Chris" Christensen

January 24, 1935 - July 25, 2011 An 80th Birthday Remembrance, celebrating his unique artistic life - a professional career of 45 years in advertising and animation. For 16 years, he held supervisory positions at Filmation Studios, first as Art Director/Producer and Layout Supervisor; then later, Vice President of Productions and Creative Affairs. His primary responsibilities were developing and coordinating the creation of all artwork for the 12 areas of animation and allocating budget costs for individual series. Chris has countless film credits for movies, titles and TV series primarily in animation. Including Filmation Studios' shows and several Emmy nominations with one win for the 1972 "Star Trek, The Animated Series." He began his career in 1955-1957 at Disney Studios as an Assistant Animator on "Sleeping Beauty." His contributions involved the kissing scene near the end. Other employment was at "Disney TV," "Marvel," "Project X," "Universal," "Imagination, Inc.," "Modern Film Effects," "Larry Harmon Productions," "TV Cartoons," "Reel 3." In advertising, he worked at "Carson Roberts," "Guild, Bascom, and Bonfigli" and in NYC he was Assistant to the Creative Director at "Young & Rubicam" and in Frankfurt am Germany he represented "Y&R" as Art Director/Producer on film projects made in England. He was a member in the Animation Guild 839 and the Academy of Television Art & Sciences and always thought of the collective 'team' first, never of himself. Quiet, insightful and visually gifted, he helped so many artists solve their visually impossible drawing and compositional problems. Chris was born in El Segundo, CA the 4th child of Rita (Mikesell) & Joseph L. Christensen. With Mormon heritage, hard work was expected and his parents encouraged his art. Sister, Marjorie (Nolte, Benner) lived nearby and brothers, Harold (Lorraine) and Floyd (age 92), told WWII War Adventures that sparked Chris' love for anything war related, including 8 years in the CA National Guard. He attended El Segundo High School, El Camino College and Art Center of Design (AA). Early interests with books, movies, playing football, opera and art lasted his lifetime. Chris is survived by his longtime wife of 47 years, Judith (Wiemken) and daughter, Nina (Joe) Gomez. He loved work and his family. During retirement, he finally found time to read extensively, follow USC Football and collect cookbooks. Because of esophageal cancer, he left us much too soon and in due time will rest next to his wife in Sterling, IL. He lived a full, responsible life and gave of himself to all. Greatly loved and greatly missed by his family...